UConn Assessing Baby Cognition and Stress Study (ABCs Study)
Have you ever wondered how your daily life stressors affect your baby? The UConn ABCs study is looking for people who are pregnant or have infants for an important study.
This study aims to learn about how stress may affect babies’ emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development. We are especially interested in learning about very early brain development, particularly in regions supporting language.
You May be eligible if you are:
In the second trimester or early third trimester of pregnancy
Mother to an infant who is 0-5 months old
Native English speaker
Over 18
Other Benefits:
Up to $330 in gift cards
Brain pictures of your baby
reimbursement for travel
access to ongoing updates about the study
What will you be asked to do?
The study happens over a period of about 1.5 years.
First, we will ask you to answer questions about yourself, your baby, family life and your experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, we will ask you to participate in a non-invasive MRI to look at the brain of your baby. This visit will happen in the evening, at the Brain Imaging Research Center at UConn Storrs.
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT: we will ask that you participate in a non-invasive MRI scan before your baby is born.
IF YOU HAVE AN INFANT: We will ask that your baby participate in an MRI scan while sleeping. We will also measure your baby’s development.
You also will be invited to participate in two follow-up assessments (about every 6 months). They will be very similar to the infant assessment described above.
Contact Us
Do you have questions? Contact PIs Dr. Fumiko Hoeft and Dr. Margaret Briggs-Gowan at abcsproject@uconn.edu or call (860) 341-2910
Brain Imaging Research Center (BIRC),
Phillips Communication Bldg
2 Alethia Drive, Storrs, CT 06269, USA